In a recent conversation, the discussion centered on what we as people do to find happiness. For me, it’s about time for me. Many people find pleasure in alcohol, relationships, sex and whatever. For me, I read and try to “re-group”. For the twelve years I was in a religious cult, I was made to think that I had to spend every evening doing “stuff” for “the Kingdom”*. I just got burned out; began getting self-focused in some attempt to survive some sense of sanity. Today, now that I’m out of “the Kingdom”, I find myself trying to “stretch” the weekend as long as possible by reading, resting and relaxing from the stress of the work week.
*Note: “The Kingdom” is a term used by the ICOC for their “church” and its membership.
A peek into my mind, to hear the thoughts of a 40-something single male as he walks this planet called Earth.
John M. Kirton II
DISCLAIMER: This is a personal weblog. The opinions expressed here represent my own solely and not those of The Village Church, her ministers, pastors, administrators, staff, covenant members, regular attenders or visitors; my parents; my alma mater, Dallas Christian College, her administration, faculty, Board, alumni, or students, past, present and future; or my employer and fellow employees.
My Story
- John M. Kirton II
- I attended public school for two years and private school for the remainder of my education. After graduation, I attended Bible college in Dallas, Texas, for four and one-half years consecutively. Unfortunately, I failed a class and was unable to graduate with my class but God enabled me to re-take the course and I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Bible and minors in Youth Ministry and Biblical Languages in 1994. After failing the aforementioned course, I had continued attending a church but began to falter in my faith. It was during my second year after my Bible college years that I was introduced to the International Churches of Christ (ICOC), where I became a member and was involved for twelve years. It was not until my twelfth year that, after much prayer from my parents and closest friends, Greg Faure and Wayne Stiles, I became convinced that the ICOC was a religious sect. In June, 2000, I left the ICOC and became a covenant member of The Village Church in Highland Village, TX, in April, 2004.
